Apache OpenOffice (AOO) Bugzilla – Issue 53130
Sort more useful - no range change
Last modified: 2013-08-07 15:12:27 UTC
I think the Sort command should be split up in four. "Range contiguous cells" "Sort all" "Sort range" - whit a "No range" message. "Sort continguous cells" This way the user would never be confused by a new range appearing when she activaes Sort. All my Sort commands would be instantly predictable. The Sort with auto range would _always_ sort the continguous cells by the cursor - it doesn't even have to change the range to do this! Actually like in Excel the current Sort will often require the user to EITHER look through the spreadsheet and try to guess what will be ranged prior to using it OR open, then close the sort window and then look through the spreadsheet to find out what was ranged - all becuase currently Sort can choose a range outside of view and it _locks_ scroll bars while it's open so that the user can not scroll around and see the new range. So with my idea to split it up in three it will not only make it more straight forward but make the Sort locking of the view less of a problem and make the auto range available for other uses. Related: Issue 52611 Cheers -- David
Note this could be implemented simply by having a range selection box inside the dialog box like used for range selection when entering formulas, so the dialog box stays open while you reselect an undesired automatic range including reselecting a range that extends beyond the viewable area. The intention also seems to be to have shortcut keys/commands that do not require bringing up the dialog box at all, after all if you know what the default sort column is going to be anyway you dont need to set it in the dialog box.
requirements
@drensink My purpose of this suggestion was to avoid having to change anything in the dialog box when I wanted to sort the whole sheet. If you just make a 'select all' in the dialog box my goal in not achieved. Specifically I need a shortcut to sort the whole sheet ascendingly - first columns first - by tapping ONE shortcut (or clicking once in a menu) and then perhaps Return to confirm the default settings. -- David